The Houston Rockets lost to the Western Conference No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, but not in the way most people anticipated. One game after returning to full strength, the Rockets were depleted in Oklahoma City and a matchup between two playoff contenders lost its intrigue — until tipoff.

This is how you make an MVP case. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points in the first quarter on his way to 51 for the game, leading the Thunder past the Rockets and getting Oklahoma City to 50 wins.